£25 Friday double returns £91

Paul Ferguson has two selections for us on Friday; Sir Vinski in the Ayr 12:30 and Foryourinformation in the Ffos Las in the 3.20. Compare odds and bet.

Despite being turned over at short odds on his hurdling debut at Newcastle, Kelso bumper winner Sir Vinski (12:30) is taken to land the opening BetVictor.com Maiden Hurdle at Ayr on Friday.

Nicky Richards’ six-year-old looked a smart prospect when winning his bumper by 10 lengths, but rather ran in snatches on his reappearance in late-November. The extra half-mile should bring about improvement and this looks a weaker contest than the maiden in which he debuted, so it is hoped he can get back to winning ways.

Down at Ffos Las, Rebecca Curtis, owner Carl Hinchy, and champion AP McCoy will be hopeful Beast Of Burden will also get off the mark at the second time of asking over hurdles. Another impressive bumper winner (at this track in October), he finished runner-up in a Newbury maiden 16 days ago and this looks easier.

He will be pretty short, however, so the same connections’ Foryourinformation (3:20) gets the vote for the day’s second selection.

He also finished second on the same pre-Christmas Newbury card, chasing home the exciting Value At Risk by 22 lengths, having loomed up like looking like being the only serious challenger two out. Another bumper winner at this course, the Kayf Tara gelding had earlier finished fourth of four behind Out Sam at Newbury’s Hennessy meeting, a race that has worked out well recently –Thomas Brown (2nd) and Tea For Two (3rd) have both scored in the past week.

He faces a couple of useful bumper winners in the shape of Western Express and Champagne Chaser, but the Curtis horse is fancied to put his hurdling experience to good advantage and make it a good day for connections.

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